Concrete block molding machine



July 27, 1948. R. s. REED CONCRETE BLOCK MOLDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1946 ioerf 5. 5260 if gm July 27, 1948. g R. s. REED 2,446,061 CONCRETE B LOCK MOLDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D60. s, 1946 Patented July 27,

Robert s. Reed, Three RlVerl, Mich. Application December 6, 1848, Serial No. 714,400

25 Claims. 1 This invention relates to improvements in a concrete block molding machine.

The principal objects of this invention are: First, to provide means for accelerating the charging or loading of a vibratory molding machine for forming concrete bricks.

Second, to providea vibratory brick moldingmachine with a finishing vibrator for compacting and smoothing the top surfaces of bricks formed in the machine.

Third, to provide astorage hopper and charging drawer for holding and quickly admitting the proper amount of concrete to the molding cavity of a vibratory brick molding machine.

Fourth, to provide a charging drawer and hopper for a brick molding machine which are so associated with the vibratory mechanism that the concrete will be shaken or vibrated from the walls of the drawer and hopper by controlled vibra-:

tion of the vibratory mechanism.

Fifth, to provide electrical connections and controls for the vibratory mechanism of a brick molding machine which will operate automatically both upon actuation of the charging drawer and the finishing vibrator to start the vibrators when the charging drawer is being emptied into the molding cavity and when the finishing vibrator is brought into operative position and also to stop the vibrators when the molding operation is completed and before the mold forming walls can be moved from supporting relation to the bricks.-

Sixth, to provide a vibratory brick molding machine with a pair of individually regulatable magnetic vibrators which areboth actuated by move- 35 The base plate 6 has secured to its underside a ment. of the charging drawer and top finishing vibrator of the machine.

Other objects and advantages relating to the details and economies of the invention will be apparent from the description to follow and the claims.

The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate a preferred form of my brick molding machine.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine with a series of bricks formed therein and ready for removal.

Fig. 2 is airagmentary vertical longitudinal cross sectional view through the charging drawer and molding' i,cavity of the machine and illustrating the charging drawer in forward position having just deposited a charge of mortar in the molding cavity.

2 tional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the charging drawer in retracted position and the tinishing vibrator in operative position at the completion of the molding operation.

.Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical controls of the machine.

Reference is made to my co-pending application for Brick or block casting machine, Serial No. 704,246, filed October 18, 1946, in which application'I disclosed a molding machine having a single magnetic vibrator for vibrating a pallet on which a charge of concrete was positioned and divided into a series of individual brick forms. This invention is an improvement and addition to the machine disclosed in the above application in that a charging drawer, storage hopper, top finishing vibrator and certainautomatic controls have been added as will be more particularly described as the specification proceeds to render the molding ms.-

chine easier and faster to operate.

In the drawings the reference character I indicates a base formed of welded angle iron members and enclosed by suitable sheet metal panels 2 to contain the power rectifier. and controlling J mechanism for the vibrators. Mounted on top of the base i are a pair of channel support rails l which are cushioned by the coil spring mounts I. The rails 3 serve as supports for the side plates 5 which are connected along, their upper edges by Q the base plate 6 and a backing plate I which extends vertically across the tops of the side plates intermediate of their ends. Angle bars 8 secured along the outer sides of the side plates support the backingplate I.

magnetic vibrator indicated at 9. The top of the base plate supports a series of spacer blocks ifi' arranged to receive a removable pallet II on which the bricks I2 are formed.

The backing plate I is slotted to pass a series of vertical divider'plates l3 which are connected at their rear ends to the threaded spacer bolt it. The ends of the bolt it are supported in guide plates i5 secured to the tops of the angle bars b and defining horizontal slots it along which not shown in this application, to the front levers i8 pivotally mounted at i8 to the front corners of the side plates. The front levers I! are connected by a ,front plate 20 which is vertically slotted to receive the forward ends of the divider plates as they are moved forwardly by the spacer bolt l4. L-shaped brackets 2| are secured'to the ends of the front plate and extending backwardly over the ends of the backing plate 1 where they are connected by the wiping bar 22. Handles 23 are provided on each of the brackets 2i.

The machine as described thus far is the same as that described more fully in the above mentioned application and operates in the same manner. The front plate 20, front levers l8, brackets 2| and handles 23 are so connected to the lever II and spacer bar I4 that forward rotating motion of the handles 23 will lmove the front plate away from the pallet and at the same time will retract the spacer bar l4 and divider plates l3, drawing the plates through the slots in the backing plate to leave the bricks I2 freely supported on the pallet ll.

In this improved molding machine the rear ends of the guide plates II are braced with respect to the side plates I by brackets 24 and have m the inwardly turned angle members 25 secured to their top edges. The angle bars 25 serve as supports for a bottom plate 26 which extends therebetween and over the top of the divider plates l3. The wiper bar 22 on the L-shaped brackets 2i rests in flush relationship with the front edge of the bottom plate when the bar and handles 23 arelowered (see Fig. 2). A series of shouldered pins 21 extend downwardly through the sides of the bottom plate and the angle bars 25 and are yieldingly secured on the underside thereof by the coil springs and nuts 23. The upper ends of the pins 21. carry stub shafts 23 for supporting the rollers 30'. The rollers support the elongated channel rail portions ll of brackets 32 along the sides of a' charging drawer 33 so that the drawer is'slidable thereon. Thrust bearings 30A keep the drawer properly aligned.

The walls of the charging drawer are sloped inwardlyto register with the top of the molding cavity formed by the front plate 20, backing plate 1 and divider plates I! at its bottom edge and to register with the bottom of a hopper 34 along its upper edge. A closure plate 35 extends between the sides of the charging drawer along their rear portions and isturned downwardly as at 34 (see Fig.2) to form the rear side wall of the charging drawer. A handle 31' is secured along the front edge of the charging drawer by means of which it may be moved on the rollers.

The hopper 34 is supported from the base i by means of the four vertical angle irons 33 secured two on each side of the base and hopper. The bottom end of the hopper is open and free to discharge into'the charging drawer 33 when the drawer is in retracted position, the concrete thus entering'the drawer being supported on the bottom plate 23. When the drawer is drawn forwardly on the rollers 30 the rearwall 36 of the drawer scrapes the charge of concrete from the bottom plate 28 and across the wiping bar 22 into the molding cavity. .At the same time the closing plate 35 comes into closely spaced relationship with the bottom of the hopper to prevent the escape of the concrete remaining in the hopper. The yielding spring mounts 28 on the bottoms of the pins 2'! permit the charging drawer 33 and rollers 30 to be raised slightly to clear any small stone which might become wedged between the bottom of the charging drawer and the bottom Plate 23.

The tops of the angle bars 38 which support the hopper are connected by straps 33, the rear ends of which-carry stub shafts 40 on which are pivotally mounted the arms.v 4i rm supporting a 55 switches.

l are mounted on the sides of the hopper to act as stops for the arms in their raised position. The top finishing head includes a magnetic vibrating mechanism enclosed in a hood and which is arranged to vibrate the whole head including the 10 plate 42. The head, indicated in its entirety by the reference character 45, may be brought into operating contact with the mortar in the mold cavity as indicated in Fig. 4 by depressing the arms 4!. A suitable electric cable 46 is arranged 15 to supply current to the vibrating mechanism.

Secured to one of the straps 39 is a snap switch 41 having an operating lever 48 extending into the path of travel of one of the arms 4i." The switch 41 isthus arranged to be closed by downward movement of the arms 4| and finishing vibrator 45 and to be opened by upward movement of the arms. A second switch 48 (see Fig. 2) is secured to the upper surface of the bottom plate 26 underneath the side rail bracket 32 and outa side of the side wall of the charging drawer 33.

.The switch 43 is of the microswitch character having an actuating lever 50 arranged to be operated by contact with the adjustable screw 5| mounted in a bracket 52 on the rear of the chargo ing drawer. The switch 43 is arranged to be open except when actuated and depressed by the screw 5|. Thus the switch 48 will be open at all times except when the charging drawer is in its full forward position as is shown in Fig. 2.

As'was described in the previously mentioned application the magnetic vibrating mechanism employed in this machine is a commercial product which in and of itself does not form a part of this invention. The vibrators include magnetic coils 40 which are supplied with a pulsating electric current of variable amplitude from suitable rectifying and rheostat control mechanisms mounted in the base. As is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 the power supply 56 for the vibrators 9 45 and 45 is separately adjustable by operation of the rheostat knobs 53, plate current switches 54 and filament current switches 85. This power supply mechanism is indicated in the wiring diagram by the powersupply boxes 56. A single 50 power supply'switch 31 is provided for turning oil. both rectifier-s simultaneously.

One of the desirable features of this machine is the manner in which the vibrators are con nected to their power supply and controlled by The magnetic coil of the finishing vibrator 45 is indicated in the circuit diagram at 53 and the coil of the lower or main vibrator is indicated at II. The snap switch 41 is provided two contacts which are made and broken simulta- 60 neously by actuation of the lever 43 by the arm 4|. One contact 60 completes the circuit to the upper coil "and the other contact 8i completes the circuit to the lower coil 53 regardless of the position of the switch 43. The microswitch 49 5 is provided with one contact 62 which also completes the circuit to the upper vibrator coil 58 and a second contact is which completes the circult to the lower coil 59 independently of the position of the switch 41. It should thus be apparent that when the charging drawer is drawn forwardly to deposit a charge of mortar on the pallet H the microswitch 43 will be actuated to start both 7 brator 3, will be transmitted .through the side plates ,guide plate I! and pins 21 to the charging drawer I! to shake the charge of mortar cleanly out of the drawer into the molding cavity. Thus there will be no residue left on the wallsof the charging drawer to become partially dried and spoil the quality of later charges of concrete with which it might become mixed. when the drawer is retracted the vibrators will be automatically turned off by opening of the switch 49 and will be started again when the finishing vibrator ll is lowered to the top of the molding cavity. Both vibrators will then operate continuously until the operator raises the finishing vibrator to actuate the lever 48 and switch 41 with the arm supporting the finishing vibrator. The operator will be guided in the operation of the finishing vibrator by the sound of the vibrator 45 which will give a dead sound until the plate 42 contacts the divider plates I! at which time. it will cause a metallic rattle indicating that the material is completely compacted.

Automatic opening of the vibrator switches by the raising of the finishing vibrator and retracting the charging drawer assures that there will be no vibration of the pallet after the bricks have been properly formed and after the divider plates have been withdrawn from between the bricks, it being impossible for the operator to raise the handles 28 and wiping bar 22 while the finishing vibrator is in lowered position or when the charging drawer is in advanced position. This interlocking of the electrical vibrator controls and the quiring time consuming measurements or synchronizing of the concrete mixed to the molding machine. The top finishing vibrator assures that the upper surface portions of the bricks are adequately vibrated and finished as well as the lower portions thereof. The preliminary operation of the vibrators prevents concrete from sticking to the walls of the charging drawer or hopper and also imparts some preliminary vibration to the mass to insure proper filling of the drawer. The machine functions to rapidly and inexpensively produce individual bricks of a uniform, highly compacted and smoothly finished character.

I have used the term brick and brick molding machine as a matter of convenience and the machine illustrated is designed for molding blocks of brick size and dimensions but it will be understood that the blocks may be of any desired size and dimension.

. I have described my invention in a highly practical commercial embodiment thereof so that others who are skilled in the art may reproduce the same without further disclosure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity defined by a removable pallet, a fixed vertical plate, a movable plate and a plurality of translatable vertical plates slidable through said other plates. a magnetic vibrator arranged to vibrate said pallet and cavity defining plates, a bar connected to said translatable plates to effect translation thereof and interconnected with said movable plate to be retracted from said cavity upon movement of said movable plate from cavity defining position,

guide members for said bar connected to said fixed vertical plate, a bottom plate supported on said guide members and above the retracted positions of said translatable plates. a charging per secured to said machine independently of said cavity forming walls and registering with the top of said charging drawer in the retracted position of said drawer, a closure plate secured to the top of said charging drawer and at the rear thereof and arranged to close the bottom of said hopper in the advanced position of said drawer, a second magnetic vibrator pivotally mounted on said hopper and adapted to be swung into operative position at the top of said molding cavity, a pair of electrical rectifying and regulating units insaid machine, a switch arranged to connect said vibrators to said'units, said switch being operatively associated with said second vibrator to energize both of said vibrators when said second vibrator is in operative position, and a second switch arranged to connect said vibrators to said units, said second switch being operatively associated with said charging drawer and said drawer is in advanced position.

2. In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity defined by a removable pallet, a fixed vertical plate, a movable plate and a plurality of translatable vertical plates slidable through said other plates, a magnetic vibrator arranged to vibrate said pallet and cavity defining plates, a bar connected to said translatable plates to effect translation thereof and interconnected with said movable plate to be retracted from said cavity upon movement of said movable plate from cavity defining position, guide members for said bar connected to said fixed vertical plate, a bottom plate supported on said guide members and above the retracted positions of said translatable plates, a charging drawer having rail members on the sides thereof, rollers supported from the sides of said bottom plate and engaged with said rail members, said rollers being yieldingly held down on said bottom plate, said charging drawer having a volume equal to the volume of mortar compactable in .said molding cavity, an open bottom hopper seindependently regulating the amount of powersupplied to said vibrators, a switch arranged to :7 connect said vibrators to said rheostats. said switch being operatively associated with said second vibrator to energize both of said vibrators when said second vibrator is in operative position, and a second switch arranged to connect said vibrators to said rheostats, said second switch being operatively associated with said charging drawer and arranged to energize said vibrators only when said drawer is in advanced position.

3. In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity defined by a removable pallet, a fixed vertical plate, a movable plate and a plurality of translatable vertical plates slidable through said other plates. a ma netic vibrator arranged to vibrate said pallet and cavity defining plates, at bar connected to saidtranslatable plates to efi'ect translation thereof and interconnected with said movable plate, guide members for said bar, a bottom plate supported on said guide members and above the retracted positions of said translatable plates, a charging drawer having rail members on the sides thereof, rollers supported from said bottom plate and engagedgvidtlz said rail berg f slidably supporting sa war over botto i plate. said charging drawer having volume equal to the volume of mortar compactable in said molding cavity. an open bottom hopper secured to said machine and re istering with the top oi said charging drawerin the retracted position of said drawer, a closure plate secured to the am er 8 of electrical rectifying and regulating units in said top of said charging drawer and at the rear thereof and arranged to close the bottom of said hopper in the advanced position of said drawer, a second magnetic vibrator, arms pivotally mounted on said hopper and: supporting said second vibrator to be swung into operative position at the top of said molding cavity. a, pair of electrical rectifying and regulating units in said 1 machine, a switch arrangedto connect both of said vibrators to said rectifying means, said switch having an actuating lever in the path of travel of said arm and operablethereby to enersize both of said vibrators when said second vibrator is in operative position, and a second switch arranged to connect both of said vibrators to said rectifying means, said second switch being mounted on said bottom plate and actuatable by said charging drawer and arranged to energize said vibrators only when said drawer is in advanced position to deliver a charge of mortar to said cavity.

4. In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity defined by fixed and movable plates, a magnetic vibrator arranged to vibrate said cavity defining plates, a bar connected to part of said movable plates to efiect movement thereof, fixed guide members for said bar, a bottom plate supported on said guide members above and to the rear of said cavity, an open bottom charging drawer having rail members on the sidesthereof, rollers-supported from saidbottomplate and engaged with said rail members to support said drawer for sliding motion from over said bottom plate to over said cavity, said charging drawer having volume equal to the volume of mortar compactable in said cavity. an open bottom hopper supported on said machine and reg-' istering .with the top of said charging drawer in the retracted position of said drawer, a clos I ure plate secured to said charging drawer and arranged to close the bottom of said hopper in the advanced position of said drawer, a second magnetic vibrator pivotally mounted on said machine and adapted to be swung into operative position at the top of said molding cavity, a pair to said power source, said second machine, a switch arranged to connect'said vibrators to said units, said switch being mechanicaily associated with said second vibrator to energise both of said vibrators when said second vibrator is in operative position, and a second switch amused to connect said vibrators tosaid units, said second switch being mechanically associated with said charging drawer and arranged to energize said vibrators only when said drawer is in advanced position.

5. In combination with abrick molding machine having a molding cavity defined by fixed and movable-plates, a magnetic vibrator arranged to vibrate said cavity defining plates, a bottom plate supported above and to the rear of said cavity, an open bottom charging drawer supportedi'or sliding motion from over said bottom plate to over said cavity, said charging drawer having volume equal to the volume of mortar compactable in said molding cavity, an open bottom hopper supported on said machine and registering with the top of said charging drawer in the retracted position of said drawer, a closure plate secured to said charging drawer and arranged to close'thc ally mounted on said machine and adapted to be-swung into operative position at the top oi said'moldingcavity, an. electrical power source in said machine, a switch arranged to connect said'vibrators to said power source, said switch being-mechanically associatedlwith said second vibrator to energize both oi said vibrators when said second vibrator is in operative position, and a second switch arranged to connect said vibrators switch being mechanically associated with said charging drawer and arranged to energize said vibrators only when said drawer is in advanced position.

In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity with a removable pallet therein, a first vibrator arranged to via brate said pallet, a hopper having an open lower end, a charging drawer slidable between a retracted position underneath said hopper. and an advanced position over said. cavity. a second vibrator. a pair 01' arms pivotaily mounted on said hopper and supporting said second vibrator, said armsbeing swingable to bring said second vibrator into operating finishing position at the topof said cavity, a pair of power supply units for said vibrators, a switch mounted on said hppper and arranged to be closed by lowering motion of said arms and opened by raising motion of said arms, said switch being arranged to connect said vibrators to said power supply units, and a second switch arranged to be closed bysaid drawer when said drawer is in advanced position, said second switch being arranged to connect said vibrators to said power supply units independently of said first switch.

I 7. In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity with a removable hopper and supporting said second vibrator, said arms being swingable to bring said. second vibrator into operating finishing position at the top of said cavity, a pair of power supply units for said vibrators, and a switch mounted on said second magnetic vibrator pivothopper and arranged to be closed by lowering motion said arms and opened by raising motion of said arms, said switch being arranged toconnect said vibrators to said power supply units. w

8. In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity with a removable pallet therein, a first vibrator arranged to vibrate said pallet, a hopper having an open lower end, a charging drawer slidable between a retracted position underneath said hopper and an advanced position over said cavity, a second vibrator, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said hopper and supporting said second vibrator, said arms being swingable to bring said second vibrator into operating finishing position at the top of said cavity, a pair of power supply units for said vibrators, and a' switch arranged to be closed by said drawer when said drawer is in advanced position, said switch being arranged to connect said vibrators to said power supply units. l

9. In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity with a removable pallet therein, a first vibrator arranged to vibrate said pallet, a hopper having an open lower end, a charging drawer slidable between a retracted position underneath said hopper and an advanced position over said cavity, said drawer having a closure plate thereon arranged to close the bottom of said hopper while said drawer is in advanced position, a second vibrator, a pair oi arms pivotally mounted on said machine and supporting said second vibrator, said arms being swingable to bring said'second' vibrator into operating finishing position at the top of said cavity, a power supply for said vibrators, a switch mounted on said hopper and arranged to be closed by lowering motion of saidarms and opened by raising motion 0! said arms, said switch being arranged to connect said vibrators to said power supply, and a second switch arranged to be closed by said drawer when said drawer is in advanced position, said second switch being arranged to connect said vibrators to said power supply independently or said first switch.

10. In combination with a brick molding machine having a molding cavity with a removable pallet therein, a first vibrator arranged to vibrate said pallet, a hopper having an open lower end, a charging drawer slidable between a retracted position underneath said hopper and an advanced position over said cavity, said drawer having a closure plate thereon arranged to close the bottom of said hopper while said drawer is in advanced position, a second vibrator, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said machine and supporting said second vibrator, said arms being,

swingable to bring said second vibrator into operating finishing position at the top of said cavity, a power supply for said vibrators, and a switch arranged to be closed by said drawer when said drawer is in advanced position, said storage hopper supported above said drawer and v drawer slidably mounted on top of said botto plate and having an open bottom closed by said bottom plate when in retracted position and registering with the topo! said cavity when in advanced position, a storage hopper supported abovesaid drawer and having an open bottom registering with the top of said charging drawer when said drawer is in retracted position, a closure plate carried on the back of said charging drawer and arranged to close the bottom of said hopper when said drawer is in advanced position, the volume or said drawer. being equal to the uncompacted volume oi material necessary to compactly fil-l said molding cavity, and a pair 1 of magnetic vibrators arranged to vibrate the walls of said molding cavity, said vibrators having uncushioned connections to said drawer and hopper whereby the vibration thereof will shake said drawer and hopper to prevent mortar from sticking to the wall thereof.

12. In combination with a vibratory brick molding machine having a molding cavity defined by a removable pallet, a fixed vertical plate, a movable plate swing'able into parallel relationship with said fixed plate and a plurality of translatable vertical plates slidable through said fixed vertical plate, a bottom plate secured in horizontal position above the retracted position oi said translatable plates, a charging drawer slidably mounted on top of said bottom plate and having an open bottom closed by said bottom plate when in retracted position and registering with a the top of said cavity when in advanced position, a storage hopper supported above said drawer and having. an open bottom registering with the top 01' said charging drawer when said drawer is in retracted position, a closure plate carried on the back 01 said charging drawer and arranged to close the bottom of said hopper when said drawer is in advanced position, the volume of said drawer being equal to the uncompacted volume of ma.- terial necessary to compactly fill said molding cavity, and a pair of magnetic vibrators arranged to vibratethe walls oi said molding cavity, one 01' said vibrators having uncushione'd connections to said hopper whereby the vibration thereof will shake said hopper to prevent mortar from sticking to the walls thereof.

13. In combination with a vibratory brick molding machine having a molding cavity defined by a removable pallet, a, fixed vertical plate, :a movable plate swingable into parallel relationship with said fixed plate and a plurality of translatable vertical platesslidable through said fixed vertical plate, a bottom plate secured in horizontal position above the retracted position of said translatable plates, a charging drawer slidably mounted on top of said bottom plate and having an open bottom closed by said bottom plate when in retracted position and registering with the top of said cavity when in advanced position, a

, having an open bottom registering with the top .of magnetic vibrators arranged to vibrate the walls of said molding cavity, said vibrators being mechanically connected, to said drawer and hopper whereby the vibration thereof will shake said I ing to the walls thereof.

able plate swingable into parallel relationship with said fixed plate and a plurality of translatable vertical plates slidable through said fixed vertical plate, a bottom plate secured to horizon tal position above the retracted position of said translatable plates, a charging drawer slidably v mounted on top of said bottom plate and having an open bottom closed by said bottom plate when in retracted position and registering with the top I of said cavity when in advanced position, a storage hopper supported above said drawer and having an open bottom registering with the top of said charglng drawer when said drawer is in retracted position, a closure plate carried by said charging drawer and arranged to close the bottom of said hopper when said drawer is in advanced position, the volumeoi said-drawer being equal to the uncompacted volume of material necessary to compactly fill said molding cavity, and a pair of magneticvibrators arranged to vibrate the walls of said molding cavity, one of said vibrators being mechanically connected to said drawer whereby the vibration thereof'will shake said drawer to prevent mortar from sticking to the walls thereof. a a

15. In combination with avibratory brick molding machine having a molding cavity defined by a removable pallet, a fixed vertical plate, a movable plate swingable into parallel; relationship with said fixed plate and a plurality of translatable vertical plates slidable through said fixed vertical plates, a bottom plate secured inhorizontal position above the retracted position of said translatable plates, a charging drawer 'slidably mounted on top of said botto plate. and havingl2 17. In combination mechanism yieldingly mounted thereon, a charging drawer slidably mounted on the top ofsaid molding mechanism and vibratable therewith. a first vibrator for vibrating said mechanism, supports secured to said base and extending above said drawer, a hopper carried by said supports and arranged to discharge into said drawer in oneposition thereof, a top finishing vibrator pivotally mounted on said hopper and swingable into operative position at the top of the molding cavity of said machine, said top vibrator. having rigid pivotal connections to said hopper whereby said hopper is vibrated by said top vibrator, and switch means mechanicl y associated with said top vibrator to be turned on-bymotion thereof toward operating position to energize said vibrators.

18. In combination with a vibratory "brick moldingmachine having a base with molding mechanism yieldingly mounted thereon, a charging drawer slidably mounted on the top of said molding mechanism and'vibratable therewith, a first vibrator for vibrating said mechanism, supports secured to said base and extending-above said drawer, a hopper carried by said supports and arranged to discharge into said drawer in one position thereof, a top finishing vibrator pivotally mounted on said hopper and swingable into operative position at the top of the molding cavity oi said machine, said top vibrator having rigid pivotal connections to said hopper whereby said hopper is vibrated by said-top vibrator, and switch means mechanically associated with said top vibrator to b turned on by motion thereof toward operating 7 position to energize said first vibraton 19. In combination with a vibratory, brick an openbottom closed by plate when t in retracted, position and registering with said cavity when in advanced position, a storage hopper supported above said drawer and having an open bottom registering with the topof said charging drawer when said drawer is in retracted position, a closure plate arranged to close the bottom of said hopper when said drawer is in advanced position, and a pair of magnetic vibrators arranged to vibrate mortar in said molding cavity, one of said vibrators being mechanically connected to said drawer and hopper whereby the vibration thereof will shake said drawer and hopper to prevent mortar from sticking to the walls thereof.

l 16. In combination with a vibratory brick molding machine having a molding cavity, a bottom plate secured in horizontal position above and oflset from said cavity, a charging drawer slidably mounted on top of said bottom plate and having an open bottom closed by said bottom plate when in retracted position and registerin with said cavity when in advanced position, a

, storage hopper supported above. said drawer and having an open bottom registering with the top of said charging drawer when said drawer is in retracted-position, a closure plate arranged to close the bottom of said hopper when said drawer is in advanced position, and a pair of magnetic vibrators arranged to vibrate mortar in said molding cavity, one of said vibrators being mechanically connected to said drawer and hopper whereby the vibration thereof .will shake said drawer and hopper to prevent mortarfrom stickmolding machine having a base with molding mechanism 'yieldingly mounted thereon, acharging drawer slidably mounted on the'top of said molding mechanism and vibratable therewith, a first vibrator for vibrating said mechanism, supports secured to said base andextending above said drawer, a hopper carried by said supports and arranged to discharge into said drawer in one position thereof, a top finishing vibrator pivotally mounted on said hopper and swingable into operative position at the top of the molding cavity of said machine, said top vibrator having rigid pivotal connections to said hopper whereby said hopper is vibrated by said top vibrator, and switch means mechanically associated with said top vibrator to be turned on by motion thereof toward operatingposition to energize said top vibrator.

. 20. In combination with a vibratory brick molding machine having a base with molding mechanism yieldingly mounted thereon, a charging drawer slidably mounted onthe top oi' said molding mechanism and vibratable therewith, a first vibrator for vibrating said mechanism, supports secured to said base and extending above said drawer, a hopper carried by-said supports with a vibratory -brick' molding machine'having a base with molding 13 of toward forward position to energize said vibrators.

2 In combination with a vibratory brick molding machine having a base with molding mechanism yieldingly mounted thereon, a charging drawer slidably mounted on the top of said molding mechanism and vibratable therewith, a first vibrator for vibrating said mechanism, supports secured to said base and extending above said drawer, a hopper carried by said supports and arranged to discharge into said drawer in one position thereof, a top finishing vibrator pivotally mounted on said supports andswingable into operative position at the top of the molding cavity of said machine, said top vibrator having rigid connections to said hopper wherebylsaid hopper is vibrated by said top vlbrator, and a switch mechanically associated with said drawer to be turned on by motion thereof toward forward position to energize said top vibrator.

22. In combination with a vibratory brick molding machine having a base with molding mechanism yieldingl mounted thereon, a charging drawer slidably mounted on the top of said molding mechanism and vibratable therewitha first vibrator for vibrating said mechanism, supports secured to said base and extending above said drawer, ,a hopper carried by said supports and arranged to discharge into said drawer in one position thereof, a top finishing vibrator pivotally mounted on said supports and swingable into operative position at the top of the molding cavity of said machine, said top vibrator having rigid connections to said hopper whereby said hopper is vibrated by said top vibrator, and a switch mechanically associated with said drawer to be turned on by motion thereof toward forward position to energize said first vibrator.

23. In combination with a vibratory brick molding machine having a base with molding mechanism yieldingly mounted thereon, a charging drawer slidably mounted on the top of said molding mechanism and vibratable therewith, a first vibrator for vibrating said mechanism, supports secured to said base and extending above said drawer, a hopper carried by said supports and arranged to discharge into said drawer in one position thereof, and a top finishing vibrator pivotally mounted on said supports and swingable into operative position at the top of the molding cavity of said machine, said top vibrator having 14 rigid pivotal connections to said hopper whereby said hopper is vibrated by said top vibrator.

24. In combination with a brick molding machine having plates forming a molding cavity and a vibrator for vibrating said plates, a bottom plate member secured to said machine and offset from the top oi said cavity, a charging drawer member, rails secured to one of said members, rollers mounted on the other of said members and cooperative with said rails to support said drawer for sliding motion to register with said cavity or said bottom plate member, springs interposed between said rollers and the member on which they are mounted wherebysaid drawer may be tilted to increase the clearance between the bottom thereof and said bottom plate member, and a hopper supported on said machine and having an open bottom registering with the top of said drawer when said drawer is in registry with said bottom plate member, said bottom plate member and drawer member being vibratable with said cavity forming plates.

25. In combination with a brick molding machine having plates forming a molding cavity and a vibrator for vibrating said plates, 9. bottom plate member secured to said machine and offset from the top of said cavity, a charging drawer member, rails secured to one of said members,

rollers mounted on the other of said members top of said drawer when said drawer is in registry with said bottom plate member.

ROBERT S. REED.

nsrsasnoas orrsn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 874,533 Palmiter Dec. 24, 1907 1,839,324 Markle Jan. 5, 1932 2,308,132 Wellnitz Jan. 12, 1943 2,431,034 Gelbman Nov. 18, 1947 

